There’s nothing that screams dedication more than the persistence of a rower. Early morning training sessions in the cold are the staple fare of the day in the life of a rower, whether its for recreation or if they are pursuing it as a chosen sport. That patience and dedication is soon to be rewarded for Northern Tasmania’s nearly 1000 rowers, with the announcement of a $3 million rowing precinct to be developed. Rowers will get access to coaches and technology they have never had access to before. The precinct will be constructed on the banks of the Tamar River, nestled between the Silo Hotel and the existing North Esk Rowing Club. Tasmania has some of the best watercourses in the world for rowing training. And the Tamar River is up there with the best. Despite its often-maligned quality, it offers a broad expanse of flat water that spans for kilometres. It is also close enough to Lake Barrington, which has been named as one of the best natural rowing courses in the country. Ensuring rowing has a home in Launceston makes sense, because of the access it gives to some of the best training grounds. The precinct will add another notch to the vibrancy to the North Bank area, which has undergone significant change in the past 12 to 18 months. A previous industrial precinct, it now houses the publicly embraced Silo Hotel, a new pedestrian bridge from the Seaport and will soon be home to the anticipated Riverbend Park. It will also be a short walk from UTAS’ new campus, which is expected to have a state-of-the-art sport science facility. Add in the rowing precinct and it’s likely that area will become a favourite new locale for Launceston’s residents, offering something for everyone. It will improve Launceston’s liveability and push it further up the ranks of a city that has something to offer its residents. The transformation of the area shows how much can be done if all levels of government and industry stakeholders work together.